GANGTOK, (PIB): The Spices Board’s Regional Office in Gangtok, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India, held a Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) on Tuesday in Ranka. The event aimed to enhance market connections, promote exports, and strengthen the supply chain for Sikkim’s premium spices, including large cardamom, dalle chilli, ginger, and turmeric.
Approximately 120 stakeholders participated in the meet. This group included Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), progressive farmers, processors, traders, and exporters from Sikkim, North Bengal, and other regions across India. The BSM served as a vital platform for these stakeholders to discover new marketing opportunities and improve pricing for their products.
Tshering Thendup Bhutia, the Minister of Commerce & Industries, Tourism & Civil Aviation, attended as the chief guest. He highlighted the importance of aligning the state’s organic brand with commercial initiatives while ensuring harmony with Sikkim’s fragile ecosystem. T. T. Bhutia, Secretary of the Horticulture Department, stressed focusing on cash crops such as large cardamom and dalle chilli, emphasizing the adoption of technology in agriculture.
Dr. Samuel Rai provided insights into the potential of mountain agriculture, including coffee cultivation. A representative from NABARD elaborated on the institutional support available for Farmer Producer Organizations and Companies. The General Manager of the District Industries Centre also attended the event.
B. N. Jha, Director of Marketing at the Spices Board, shared that the BSM is part of a nationwide initiative to connect cultivation with marketing channels, ensuring a holistic and sustainable spice value chain. He noted that Sikkim, as India’s first organic state, serves as a model for integrating organic farming into global trade and reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting the spice sector through capacity building and market networking.
The event saw participation from 20 FPOs/FPCs and 40 farmers from Sikkim, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling, alongside 14 exporters from across the country. The business session fostered fruitful discussions, generating direct trade inquiries for approximately 500 tons of dry large cardamom and 50 tons of turmeric (curcumin 5–8%) for the current season. Additionally, inquiries were received for 30 metric tons of cardamom and 100 metric tons of ginger. Buyers also expressed interest in obtaining samples of dalle chilli for future procurement.
Participants provided highly positive feedback about the BSM’s effectiveness in facilitating direct interactions and strengthening market connections within the spice sector.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/spices-board-organises-buyer-seller-meet-in-gangtok-to-boost-market-linkages-for-sikkims-premium-spices
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